{"id":355743,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/elder\/elder-abuse\/what-is-the-elder-abuse-suspicion-index-easi.html"},"modified":"2022-12-07T15:46:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T20:46:27","slug":"what-is-the-elder-abuse-suspicion-index-easi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/elder\/elder-abuse\/what-is-the-elder-abuse-suspicion-index-easi.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

What Is the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index\u00a9 (EASI)?<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Growing awareness has led to greater efforts to help identify and report elder abuse. Early abuse interventions, preventive services, and effective screening tools help stop elder abuse and neglect. The Elder Abuse Suspicion Index\u00a9 (EASI) is one such effort.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

Growing awareness has led to greater efforts to protect the well-being of elderly people. Early elder abuse detections and interventions, as well as effective screening tools, help reduce elder abuse and neglect incidents. The Elder Abuse Suspicion Index\u00a9<\/a> (EASI) is one such tool. Mark J. Yaffe, Maxine Lithwick, and Deborah Weiss at McGill University created the Senior’s Self-Administration of the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

EASI is primarily administered by physicians working with geriatric patients and family medicine physicians in primary care settings to identify elder abuse. But the EASI tool is only appropriately used to examine cognitively intact seniors. The Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) determines a senior’s mental capacity. A score of 24 or higher on the MMSE means the senior is cognitively intact.<\/p>\r\n

Elder abuse, also called older adult abuse<\/a>, is a serious problem that will increase in the coming years as the older adult population increases. Elder abuse can occur at a nursing home, long-term care facility, or in one’s own home. We will explore several forms of elder abuse in this article.<\/p>\r\n

By 2030 more than 20% of the U.S. population will be over 65. As the Baby Boomer generation is retiring and living longer, the prevalence of elder abuse will likely grow.<\/p>\r\n

But victims of elder abuse and their loved ones don’t need to face these challenges alone.<\/p>\r\n

How Does the EASI Work?<\/h2>\r\n

The EASI is a list of six questions<\/a> intended to raise a primary care doctor or medical professional’s suspicion of elder abuse. This simple abuse screening helps a doctor determine whether to report a case to authorities and justify referral to social services. Social workers or adult protective services (APS) will then investigate reports of elder abuse.<\/p>\r\n

The six EASI questions are as follows:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Have you relied on people for any of the following: bathing, dressing, shopping, banking, or meals?<\/li>\r\n
  2. Has anyone prevented you from getting food, clothes, medication, glasses, hearing aids, medical care, or being with people you wanted to be with?<\/li>\r\n
  3. Have you been upset because someone talked to you in a way that made you feel shamed or threatened?<\/li>\r\n
  4. Has anyone tried to force you to sign papers or to use your money against your will?<\/li>\r\n
  5. Has anyone made you afraid, touched you in ways you did not want, or hurt you physically?<\/li>\r\n
  6. [For doctor]: Did you notice any of the following in the last 12 months: poor eye contact, withdrawn nature, malnourishment, hygiene issues, cuts, bruises, inappropriate clothing, or medication compliance issues?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    A "yes" response to these questions should raise concerns about elder abuse and lead to a follow-up inquiry.<\/p>\r\n

    The EASI is a quick assessment tool and is used to strengthen the reporting requirement. A study<\/a> on the effectiveness of the EASI found that it took an average of two minutes to administer. About 97.2% of doctors found that its use would have either some or a large impact on their practice.<\/p>\r\n

    What Is Older Adult Abuse?<\/h2>\r\n

    Abuse can happen to any older person despite their financial situation, culture, gender identity, physical health, mental health, or care setting. While these can be risk factors, abuse can happen to anyone. Signs of abuse are hard to see, and the situation may feel shameful to the victim.<\/p>\r\n

    Elder mistreatment and abuse can take many forms<\/a>, including:<\/p>\r\n